World Hotel-Link Travel Marketplace for the Developing World Launches
Travel Network in 40 Countries
HONG KONG--(Marketwire - September 18, 2007) - Worldhotel-link.com
Limited (WHL) today announced the launch of its network of travel
sites (www.whl.travel) in over 70 destinations in 40 countries,
including China and India. The sites are catering to those wishing to
travel "off the beaten track" and who are tired of the "fast food"
travel options being offered by most online service providers.
Increasing numbers of independent travelers are heading for emerging
destinations in search of an authentic experience, but have not been
well served by the mainstream travel market. WHL has set out to
change this with local partners on the ground in each destination
they service.
"So far, most of the accommodation and activities mentioned in
guidebooks like Lonely Planet have not been bookable online," said
Len Cordiner, CEO of WHL. "Our new network not only gives travelers a
choice of interesting accommodation and activity options, but it also
gives them a more personalized way of connecting with the locals and
the place."
WHL, a private company, originated from a project sponsored by the
International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank
Group, to help interesting and unique travel service providers in the
developing world gain access to global markets. "Accommodation and
activity providers in places like Madagascar and Mongolia face big
challenges in connecting with travelers," says Len Cordiner, "so we
have local people on the ground in each destination to enable that
connection and provide a local concierge type service."
More than this, WHL is committed to putting more and new interesting
and exciting experiences within the travelers' reach, particularly
those that enhance the character of the destination being visited:
food, aesthetics, culture, heritage, and environment. WHL encourages
travelers to get involved in "Caring for the Destination." WHL is
also working on ways to profile local climate change initiatives such
as the Plant a Tree Today (PATT) initiative in Laos, as well as ways
to improve the travelers experience by integrating grassroots
businesses, such as township B&Bs in South Africa, and community
initiatives.
About WHL:
Worldhotel-link.com Limited (WHL) is owned and operated by a team
from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Caribbean, Hong Kong,
India, South Africa, Switzerland, the USA and Vietnam. WHL's mission
is to provide an international standard online booking service for
travel product from the developing world.
In addition to the 70 destinations live, there are another 30
destination sites under construction in Africa, the Middle East, the
Balkans, Asia, the Caribbean and in Central/South America. Included
in this total are a number in regional China which will go live later
this year in time for the Olympics in 2008. Visit
www.worldhotel-link.com for more information.
Contact:
Jodi McKeeman
Email: Jodi@worldhotel-link.com
U.S. Direct: 202 470 0736
